Bionor Pharma ASA (OSLO: BIONOR) announced today that it has initiated the international patent process for protection of the Company's peptide vaccine candidate Vacc-HIV, a combination of Vacc-4x and Vacc-C5. The new patent is developed for further protection of the two vaccines alone, in addition to protecting the use of these therapies in combination.

"Bionor Pharma researchers have strong expectations for Vacc-HIV as both a therapeutic and potentially preventive vaccine," said Steen Krøyer, CEO, "and this is due to the convincing preclinical and clinical data for both vaccines."

With the recently approved Vacc-C5 clinical phase I/II trial about to begin, the Company has started to prepare for the Vacc-HIV trial, for eventually being able to plan studies in humans.

Bionor's vaccines are based on the proprietary technology platform developed following more than two decades of research on peptides. The vaccines are designed to safely activate each person's immune system to combat viral diseases. The Company's lead HIV vaccine, Vacc-4x, is being investigated as a therapeutic vaccine, and has completed a phase 2b randomized, multinational (USA and 4 European countries), double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. It produced a statistically significant reduction in viral load and viral load set point by killing of virus producing cells.

Bionor's second therapeutic HIV vaccine, Vacc-C5, is developed to induce antibodies to HIV that can reduce viral production (lowering the set point) and the harmful hyperactivation of the immune system that leads to AIDS. Recently, the clinical phase I/II study with Vacc-C5 was approved by the Norwegian Clinical Board. Subsequent to the Vacc-C5 phase I/II trial, Bionor intends to combine Vacc-4x with Vacc-C5, which could form the basis for both a therapeutic and a preventative HIV vaccine.

The Company's innovative technology platform is also well suited to develop vaccines for other viral diseases, including Influenza, HCV (Hepatitis C), CMV (Cytomegalovirus) and HPV (Human papillomavirus).

More information about Bionor Pharma, its research and products, is available at www.bionorpharma.com.

This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl (Norwegian Securities Trading Act). Vacc-4x, Vacc-C5, Vacc-Flu, Vacc-HCV, Vacc-CMV and Vacc-HPV are investigational treatments that have not been approved for marketing by any regulatory authority.